DO you know an inspiring young person who deserves recognition?

Casterbridge Rotary Club in Dorchester has been running a number of youth competitions for several years, including Young Chef, Youth Speaks and Young Writer.

Thomas Hardye pupil Katie Platt, 15, scooped third prize in the national Young Chef competition earlier this year, while representing the Casterbridge club.

And this year, the club is introducing the Rotary Young Citizen Award to Dorchester and is looking for nominations to go forward to the national award.

The scheme aims to showcase and celebrate the positive citizenship and important responsibilities assumed by many young people under the age of 25.

The awards are open to individuals or groups.

Diana Apps, spokesperson for the Casterbridge Rotary Club youth committee, said: “Those nominated do not need to be working on a Rotary project. What matters is that they, individually or as part of a group, have made a positive difference which is recognised by their local Rotary club. 

“They could be champions in their school or local community, young carers, fundraisers, volunteers or have shown great courage.”

Rotary has also partnered up with British wheelchair sport charity Wheelpower, which is sponsoring an individual award in the scheme. 

Casterbridge Rotary Club will send details of their chosen nominee to the judging panel.

Rotary Young Citizen winners will receive a trophy, certificate and a prize of £500 to be nominated for the use of a charity or project with which the nominee is involved. The awards will be presented at the R.I.B.I. Conference being held in Manchester from April 7 to 9, 2017. 

If you know of an inspiring individual or group and would like to nominate them, please contact Rotarian Diana Apps for an application form: casterbridgeyouth@gmail.com The closing date for entries is October 31. Mrs Apps is also happy to hear from any young people who would like to enter the Young Chef, Youth Speaks and Young Writer competitions. They are usually run in conjunction with schools, but any young person whose school is not involved is welcome to get in touch.